Eagles send starting guard Andrews packing

The Philadelphia Eagles reached the final roster limit Saturday night.

And then some.

Because they were still completing a trade for guard Stacy Andrews at the 6 p.m. deadline, they technically still had him on their roster and were forced to cut someone else in his place.

That meant the Birds wound up with 52 players instead of the league maximum of 53 in what was a frenetic finish to an active few days of roster shuffling.

In addition to dealing Andrews, their expected starter at right guard, the team traded special teams stalwart Tracy White and dealt with Baltimore for pass rusher Antwan Barnes.

The result is a 52-man roster that is extremely heavy on the lines - 10 on defense and nine on offense - and undermanned with just three safeties, including two rookies, and tight end, where another rookie backs up starter Brent Celek.

Of course, much could change today when the 24-hour waiver claim period ends, at which point the Birds hope to re-sign veteran guard and current free agent Max Jean-Gilles, the player who was let go while Andrews was still on the roster.

Also cut were Macho Harris and Quintin Demps, a pair of safeties who started as rookies in the last two years, and tight end Cornelius Ingram, a fifth-round draft pick last year who missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury.

The Birds kept 10 of their 13 draft picks, including seven defensive players, in driving their already low average age even lower.

The biggest move, however, was the trade of Andrews, who went to Seattle for an undisclosed draft pick next year.

Andrews had signed a six-year, $39 million contract last year, but agreed to a pay cut after starting just twice. He began training camp as the starter at right guard and stayed there through the preseason, but hardly seemed to have a firm hold on the job.

When Nick Cole returned from a knee injury early in the practice week and began sharing practice reps with Andrews, it became clear the Birds weren't happy. When they traded for veteran guard Reggie Wells Friday, Andrews' time in Philadelphia was obviously going to be measured in hours rather than days, weeks or seasons.

Andrews implied in remarks to reporters in the last week that he was more comfortable playing tackle than guard, which general manager Howie Roseman said surprised him.

"I know that he felt he could play guard in this league as well and he was working toward that," said Roseman. "But obviously with those comments he preferred to play tackle."

Roseman said Cole, who played right guard last year before moving to center when Jamaal Jackson was injured, would take over for Andrews.

Barnes, a linebacker with the Ravens, will play end for the Eagles. Roseman said the team has watched the 6-1, 251-pounder since he played at Florida International. Barnes played in 37 games in three years in Baltimore, and had three of his five sacks last season while playing in 11 games.

"He's got rare speed, and it's hard to find guys who can consistently get pressure on the quarterback," said Roseman. "It goes back to our philosophy here that we've said, is that we're going to make sure our defense is able to get pressure on the quarterback."